Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-10-26
They should make known their claims
promptly by earnest request.
MONTANA WILL BE BENEFITED

%4s@ 4# ---- a@##@=#
The Pioneer Press IN an editorial
in its issue of the 18th, takes the
proper view of the railroad situation
IN the northwest, as affected by the
competition of the Manitoba. After a
premise in explanation of the case,
the article concludes af follows: 1.-THE
moral of all this is obvious enough
and It is rather ominous for debt la
den railroads everywhere. which de-
pend for sustenance upon revenues
drawn from high rates to special
points. No doubt the rates of the
Union Pacific to Montana points are
fair and moderate enough, measured
bv the standard which railroad man
ayers are accustomed to apply. Prob
ably they have been found necessary
to enable the Union Pacific to earn
fixed charges upon its enormously
expensive construction and upon a
mighty burden of debt. But this is
no reason why another railroad, built
at a fraction Of the cost of the Union
Pacific, and comparatively free from
| debt, should make the necessities of
that road a measure of Fits own charges.
| The Manitoba is a wealthy, independ-
emit and economically managed cor
| poration. It has a low grade line to
Montana. eeonomicallg built, and car
pable of earning fixed charges on
rates little more than half as high as
those the Union Pacific think it nee
essaey to impose. There is no eason
on earth why the people Of the coun-
try it serves should not have the adj
vantage Of these favorable conditions.
If the Manitoba can carry first class
freight from Helena for two dollars
and earn a fair living, there is no rea-
fon why it should demand three dol
lars and put the difference in its
| pocket because the Union Pacific finds
it necessary to charge three dollars in
order to pay the interest on its bonds.
The problem Is a very serious one for
the other roads, but it is very simple
for the Manitoba. Whatever may
happen to the other roads, the inva-
sion Of their heretofore exclusive ter
ritory by the latter can bring nothing
but relief and benefit to the people Of
Montana.
"sTEP INTO TIE P4RLOR," ETC.
The fox who lost his tail suggested
that other foxes should rid themselves
Of that appendage. The Union and
the Northern Pacific are now in a
state of great agitation regarding the
entry of the Manitoba and Montana
Central into Montana. The Northern
Pacific. gorged with public money
derived from a land grant, which it is
doubtful it even earned, has striven
to crush the Manitoba by building
parallel lines that were not needed,
aud by it other useless OUTLAWS. It has
made up for these wasteful expendi-
lures by levying excessive freight
rates on the Montana traffic in vir-
tue Of the monopoly it exercised in
this territory. 1t has carried merchan-
disc at less rates from Portland to st
Paul than from Helena to the latter
city, although there is a difference of
800 miles IN favor of the Montana
capital. Such high rates have Grip
pied some Montana industries, and.
retarded the growth OF the territory.
The Union Pacific which enters
Montana by a tortuons route, pnrsnes
the same greedy policy. 1t has seen
a great mining establishment at Butte
which employed directly and other
wise, at least 1000 people close its
works on account Of it's exorbitant
freight rates for salt. It has made the
Butte branch bear in great part the
burden Of it's Watered stock, its enor-
nous expenditure and its Improbable
routes. Tt has laid heavy tribute on
the merchants and mine owners of
Butte, and by an nnholy compact
placed Montana in the grasp of the
Northern Pacific. All this has been
done by a road which received an
enormous land grant, and an immense
subsidy in government bonds on
which the supreme court has declared
it need pay no interest until both
principal and interest are collected
together. In brief the country has
built the road and allowed it to levy
tribute for the benefit of Wall street
on the young, enterprising west,
x,b;ah FROM fha Micsorr.i IN tho paaif-